Medical and social aspect of Duchenne muscular dystrophy as a chronic disease in a 14-year-old child

Introduction
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a rare, genetic ally inherited disease. It is most common in men because gene inheritance is of great importance. The Duchenne dystrophy geneis located on the short arm of the X chromosome. The mutation is recessively inherited in conjunction with the X chromosome, and then transmitted from the mothers who are carriers of the disease gene.

Aim of the study
The aim of this study is to present the medical and social aspects of disease progression during stages of child’s physiological development, on the example of a 14-year-old boy suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Case study
The 14-year-old patient was admitted to the Pediatric Ward in moderate general condition. He was presenting signs of respiratory tract infection – runny nose, cough, 38 degrees Celsius fever and expiratory dyspnoea. In the physical examination, the doctor noticed obesity, decreased muscle tone in the upper and lower limbs. Auscultation of the lungs’ fields showed weakened vesicular murmur, elongated exhalation. Wheezing and crackles were audible in both lungs.

Conclusions
The planning of health care for a nurse and medical care a patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy is conditioned by the needs of an adolescent child, with particular emphasis on his social personality.